Animals, Fish & Insects

Pottery & Porcelain Marks – Animals, Fish & Insects: Animal marks from snakes, seals, rabbits, and dogs to unicorns, griffins, dragons, deer, and lions were used on pottery and porcelain in Europe from the 19th century to present. One of these marks that is confusing, the British Royal Arms, an oval shield divided into quadrants and flanked by a lion and a unicorn, was in use from 1801 to 1837. From 1801 to 1814, the shield had a cap over it. The cap was changed to a crown from 1814 to 1837. Pottery made in the United States was marked with a purposely-confusing version of the Royal Arms mark. Firms changed the animals guarding the shield to include two lions, two unicorns, or neither animal in favor of humans or birds. The mark is small and often blurred and thus can easily be misread and misattributed.